Hand lever switch



Dec. 24, 1963 J. LESCARBOURA 3,115,555

HAND LEVER SWITCH Filed Feb. 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi er].

ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1963 J. LESCARBOURA 3,115,555

HAND LEVER swmcn Filed Feb. 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent 3,115,555 HAND LEVER SWITCH Jean Lescarboura, Nanterre, France,assignor to La Telemeeanitgue Electrique, Nanterre, Seine, France, ajointstoclr company of France Filed Feb. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 175,092Claims. (Cl. 200-5) The present invention has for its object a leverswitch operated manually in four directions perpendicular to each other,from a central neutral position.

This switch is of the combination type, that is to say it can beemployed, by means of a very simple conversion of standardised parts,for different switching programmes with respect to the various possiblepositions of the lever.

A switch has already been proposed which has a lever pivoted about ashaft and having its stable positions determined by teeth on this leverwhich can engage on a cam surface forming sloping faces and stoppingnotches. This cam surface is constituted by two complementary partsjuxtaposed so as to form an oblong opening for the movements of thelever, extending over an equal distance on each side of the plane ofjuxtaposition of the two complementary parts. Each stopping notch,whether it is formed in one or the other of the said complementaryparts, passes so to speak through the said oblong opening and iscontinued symmetricaHy on each side-of the said opening. It is possibleto associate two cam members taken from a set of difierent cam members,in order to vary the combinations.

However, this device only permits movement of the lever along a straightline on each side of its pivotal point.

A switch has also been proposed having a swiveljoint lever, with ahemispherical head provided with a centrally-projecting stud. Thiscentral stud can be guided in grooves formed in a bowl, and the generalplan substantially resembles a wheel with eight spokes, the central huband the connection of the spokes to the rim corresponding to dish-shapedmembers in which the hemispherical head can be supported and to as manystopping positions of the said head.

However, the path which can be followed by the head of the lever isinvariable.

With this device, a curved disc, through the centre of which the leverpasses and is rigidly fixed thereto, actuates directly the knobs or"four switches.

The present invention relates to a lever switch with combinations, inwhich the lever can move along four directions perpendicular to eachother, starting from a central neutral position, the cam contour of eachdirection being formed on an independent changeable member dice in theform of a sector of a truncated cylinder, permitting combinations to beeffected between sectors.

The switch is provided with contacts of the microswitch type in singleinterchangeable units.

The cam sectors or dice can be displaced from each other through anangle, preferably 45, with respect to two perpendicular movements.

The operation of each micro-switch is effected through the intermediaryof an elastic means which converts the amplitude of the travel of thelever to the much smaller travel necessary for the operation of themicro-switch, avoiding shocks caused by an abrupt movement of the lever,permitting an over-travel of the lever after the micro-switch contacthas changed over, and lending itself to actuation displaced by 45.

Other particular features and advantages of the present invention willbecome evident from the description which follows below with regard tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

3,115,555 Patented Dec. 24, 1963 FIG. 1 is a view in partiallongitudinal section of a switch according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view from above of a cup holding the four cam dice orsectors;

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of one of these sectors;

FIG. 3a is a view from above this same sector;

FIG. 3b is a view in cross-section along the line AB of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal section of a further alternative formof sector;

FIG. 4a is a view of this second form of sector looking from above;

FIGS. 4b and 4c are cross-sections taken along the lines CD and EFrespectively of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal section of another alternative form ofsector;

FIG. 5a is a plan view of this sector; and

FIG. 6 is a View in elevation of a spring forming the intermediarybetween the lever and each micro-switch.

In the form of embodiment shown, the combination switch with fourdirections perpendicular to each other, starting from a central neutralposition, comprises dice or sectors 1, preferably in the form of asector of a truncated cylinder, each corresponding in an individual andchangeable manner, to one of the four directions.

The sectors 1 preferably made of a synthetic material, are held in adish or cup 2, the material of which is advantageously also a syntheticsubstance.

The sectors are mounted in the cup by means of a positioning nipple 3passing into holes 4 formed in the bottom of the cup. This cup ispierced with eight holes spaced angularly apart at 45, so that there areavailable two possible mounting positions of the sectors at 45 from eachother.

The sectors 1 are provided on their inclined portions with a cam 5 forguiding a ball 6 held at the extremity of a sliding end-member 7.

The end-member 7 slides on the manual operating lever 8 of the switch.It can slide against the action of a spring 9, held between an internalcollar 10 of a ring 11, itself retained by a collar 7a on the end-memberand a circular abutment 12 preferably made of synthetic material. Thedepth of this abutment permits the sliding movement of the end-member 7.

By reason of the presence of the spring 9, the ball 6 is pressed againstthe cams 5 of the sectors 1 held in the cup 2.

The lever 8 is provided with a swivel-joint 13. This swivel-joint pivotsinside a solid cylindrical cage 14. Fluid-tight bellows 15 and 16 areclamped at their peripheries: the first bellows between the cage 14 anda fixing nut 17 and two small flanges 8a and db on the lever 8; thesecond between the cage 14 and a plate 18 and between the abutment 12and the ball-joint 13. p

Between the plate 18 and a further plate 19 are clamped micro-switches20. There is one micro-switch per direction, but two of thesemicro-switches only have been shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of clearness.

The actuation of the buttons 21 of the micro-switches is effected bymeans of flat springs 22 in the form of loops.

A portion 23 of one of the branches 24 of each spring bears against thebutton 21 which corresponds to it. The portion 23 of the branch 24 isfollowed, after an elbow 26, by a portion 25' of the said branch. Theportion 25 is held loosely in an opening 27 formed in the plate 19.

The slightly curved-back extremity 28 of the portion 25 of the branch 24of the spring 22 is provided with notches 29 (FIG. 6) serving tomaintain the spring in the opening 27 of the plate 19.

Each opening 27 gives into a central orifice 3% formed in the plate 19and intended to receive the cup 2.

As there are as many springs as directions, and as these directions areperpendicular to each other, the openings 27 are formed diametricallyfacing each other on two diameters at right angles of the centralorifice 36 The cup 2 is made so as to have bearing surfaces 31 inclinedat an angle, the inclination corresponding to that of the portion 25 ofthe springs 22.

The other branch 32 of each spring bears on the ring 11 slidably mountedon the sliding end-member 7. This ring is of spherical form so as tofacilitate the actuation of the springs 22 irrespective of the positionof the end-member 7, and therefore of the ball 6 on one or the other ofthe cams of the sectors 1.

In the form of embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 3a and 3b, each sector 1has a cam 5, the slope of which forces the lever 8 and its ball 6 toreturn to the neutral point when it is released, :as shown in FIG. 1.

In the form of construction shown in FIGS. 4, 4a, 4b and 4c, the cam ofthe sector 1 is hump-backed and thus has two slopes 5a and 517.Following this hump-backed cam, the lever is controlled in a stableposition when it is inclined in the corresponding direction.

In the form of embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a, the sector 1 isprovided with an abutment 3 3 which prevents the lever from rocking.

The springs 22 convert the amplitude of the travel of the ring 11 to themuch shorter travel necessary for the operation of the microswitches.

They prevent shocks due to any abrupt movement of the lever which,failing them, would be transmitted to the push-buttons 21 of themicro-switches.

They also permit an over-travel of the lever after the micro-switchcontact has changed over.

In addition, when the sectors 1 are displaced by 45 in their cup, theremainder of the apparatus is not modified; the ring 11 then applies acoupling on the springs Cit , switches in a plurality of directionsstarting from a central neutral position comprising a cup member havingholes pierced through the bottom and spaced angularly apart by aplurality of switches positioned around said cup member each havingactuating means substantially directed toward said cup member,independent and changeable dice members in the form of sectors of acylinder with one of said dice members for each of said switches locatedin said cup member, a positioning nipple on each of said dice memberslocated to pass through the holes in the bottom of said cup member, acam surface on each otE said dice members, and a cam track on each ofsaid cam surfaces.

3. The lever change-over switch in accordance with. claim 1, furthercharacterized by a sliding member on said lever and a ball retained atthe extremity of said sliding member and guided in said cam tracks.

4. The lever change-over switch in accordance with claim 1 furthercharacterized by a resilient means contacting each of said actuatingmeans on each of said switches converting the amplitude of the travel ofthe lever to the greatly reduced travel necessary for the operation ofthe switch, preventing shocks due to an abrupt movement of the lever,permitting an over-travel of the lever after the actuating means or theswitch has changed over,

and lending itself to actuating displaced by 45.

22 which twist slightly but nevertheless transmit the move- 3 ment tothe buttons 21 because of the very small travel of the latter (2 to 3nun).

The three forms of construction of the sectors, without taking intoaccount the simple changes of position by turning the apparatus, permita great number of combinations to be made which have not been describedin detail but which will be evident to a man skilled in the art.

It is possible to construct other special forms of sector, for example ahollow conical sector making it possible to pass from one direction tothe other without returning to zero, or alternatively sectors withbosses at the centre, permitting the switch to have two stable endpositions with respect to the neutral point.

In a general way, the above description has'been given only by way ofexplanation and without implied limitation, and the invention is capableof receiving many al ternative forms compatible with'its scope.

I claim:

1. A lever change-over switch with a lever on a swivel joint and acontrol projection surrounding its rod, for actuating switches in aplurality of directions starting from a central neutral positioncomprising a cup member, a plurality of switches positioned around saidcup member 5. A lever change-over switch with a swivel joint and controlprojection surrounding its rod, for actuating switches in a pluralityotf directions starting from a central neutral position comprising a cupmember, a plurality of switches positioned around said cup member eachhaving actuating means substantially directed toward said cup member,independent and changeable dice members in the form of sectors of acylinder with one of said dice members for each of said switches locatedin said cup member, a cam surface on each of said dice members, a camtrack on each of said cam surfaces, a projecting control member in theform of a spherical ring on the lever, and a loosely retained flatspring in the form of a loop having one branch of said spring acted uponby said projecting control member and another branch acting on one ofsaid actuating means of said switch whereby a twisting movement of saidspring is permitted when the actuation is displaced by 45";

References Cited in the file of this patent

1. A LEVER CHANGE-OVER SWITCH WITH A LEVER ON A SWIVEL JOINT AND ACONTROL PROJECTION SURROUNDING ITS ROD, FOR ACTUATING SWITCHES IN APLURALITY OF DIRECTIONS STARTING FROM A CENTRAL NEUTRAL POSITIONCOMPRISING A CUP MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF SWITCHES POSITIONED AROUND SAIDCUP MEMBER EACH HAVING ACTUATING MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY DIRECTED TOWARDSAID CUP MEMBER, INDEPENDENT AND CHANGEABLE DICE MEMBERS IN THE FORM OFSECTORS OF A CYLINDER WITH ONE OF SAID DICE MEMBERS FOR EACH OF SAIDSWITCHES LOCATED IN SAID CUP MEMBER, A CAM SURFACE ON EACH OF SAID DICEMEMBERS, AND A CAM TRACK ON EACH OF SAID CAM SURFACES.